95 
36 in 1884, 43 in 1885, 49 in 1886, 535 in Late 60 in 1888, 65 in 
1889, 692 in 1890, 73 in 1891, and 79} in 1893. The girth of the 
largest tree measured in Brazil by Mr, Cross was 82 inches. 
“The measurements above given are those of the largest tree. 
ti 
Henaratgoda in 1876. This now consists of 45 trees, about 
30 feet apart. The girth was taken at the height of the eye, pen 
9 feet 6 inches above the ground. The largest tree was 7 His 
; Dong wi is smallest 2 feet 1 inch i in girth. The mean girth w: 
feet 1 
E Me: ing.—The yield of rubber from very young or slender 
trees is too small to make their tapping worth while, and it is 
best for m many reasons to abstain from tapping a tree until it has 
reached a girth of 2 feet. In a large plantation the girth of the 
trees always varies between wide limits. A few trees may be fit 
ry. 
the bulk of the trees should be in bearing before the end of the 
eleventh year. The results of the experiments hitherto made à 
Henaratgoda go to show that it is inadvisable, having rega 
the future, to tap trees of less than two feet in girth, but it is still 
a 
should not be-fixed even higher. This, pedan esae of course 
necessitate longer waiting for the retur he rate of 
inerease of girth in trees of this size is gens about 3 raver per 
“The methods of tapping and of coagulation of the rubber 
employed by the native collectors in Brazil and elsewhere are 
rough, wasteful, and inefficient, an ere is grea m for 
provemen xperiments are being made 
test methods of tapping and coagulation, and their results will 
form the subject of a subsequent circular. e 8 
years in the tappings carried on at Henaratgoda. 
“The requisites for the work are a j-inch chisel, a wooden 
mallet, a number of clean cocoanut shells, each cut in two so as to 
form small basins, a knife, and a supply of clay and water with 
which to form the gutters round the trees. 
“The tree is first carefully and lightly shaved with the knife 
from a height of about 6 feet down to the ground, so as to form a 
perfectly smooth surface. _ Only the outermost aur of the bark 
rail be re at vg 
e ing pleted 
polished by Hanae or davetulty brushed, The great object in view 
is to obtain a smooth and clean surface, over which the milk can 
run easily, without becoming contaminated by small particles of 
bark or other rubbish, as the market value of rubber depends on 
its cleanliness. 
“A clay pains is next made round the tree about 6 phe 
und, so arranged as to catch the milk which will 
trickle tte the tree and empty it by two or more ‘sponte | fs as 
